New Years Eve
I spent most of last night being mocked by my boyfriend for celebrating New Years Eve in our family's traditional way. He reckons nobody else does it, has no idea why we do it and declares it completely sexist. He also showed me his baffled face.
Anyway, I'll write what we do, and you lot can help solve my argument. I had just assumed everyone celebrated it this way, and never questioned it, but now I'm curious.
At about five to midnight, we throw all the menfolk out of the house and into the garden. The women then count down to midnight and join arms to sing Auld Lan Syn (sp?). We then let the men back in, but the first man through the door must be the darkest, tallest one, who is seen as letting the new year in. The women then proceed to give each man a silver coin and a kiss.
So...do you do that? If not, what do you do? And does anyone have any ideas as to where our particular ritual might have originated from?
Anyway, I'll write what we do, and you lot can help solve my argument. I had just assumed everyone celebrated it this way, and never questioned it, but now I'm curious.
At about five to midnight, we throw all the menfolk out of the house and into the garden. The women then count down to midnight and join arms to sing Auld Lan Syn (sp?). We then let the men back in, but the first man through the door must be the darkest, tallest one, who is seen as letting the new year in. The women then proceed to give each man a silver coin and a kiss.
So...do you do that? If not, what do you do? And does anyone have any ideas as to where our particular ritual might have originated from?